Wigwag signal



Patented May 21, 1935 UNITED STATES WIGWAG SIGNAL William E. Signor, Gettysburg, Pa., minor, by

mesne assignments, to Seco Manufacturing Company, Gettysburg, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 9, 1932, Serial No. 646,502

' 12 Claims. (01.177-329) The present invention relates to the art of display signals, andmore. particularly pertains to a novel flash light signal intended for motor vehicle or other similar purposes, serving to avoid collision or other'accidents' by visualfiashlight means that effectively warn any following driver of intent on part of the preceding driver to slow up or bring his car-to a halt. My improvements are especially beneficial under conditions of fast night highway driving. The same underlying structural features are also applicable as a railroad crossing signal and to animated advertising signs or the like.

vA primary object is to provide for a simple and reliable device of this character and one capable of strikingly attracting attention to itself. My display signal maybe equipped witha self-contained chambered casing that housesamotor driven oscillatory arm carrying one or more lightable bulbs that are electrically energized and set into motion whenever it is desired to make the signal operative. Said light source is adapted to swing behirfdand successively register with a series of spaced lenses mounted within a casing cover, preferably of different colored transparencies, which make for a highly attractive stop signal or flash display that can readily be distinguished at a considerable distance, even during daytime hours. A partitioned casing compartment may be resorted to for cooperatively housing a supplementary tail light bulb therein.

My improvements are further directed to a compact casing of the dustproof type into which all operative mechanism including an oscillatory arm, motor drive means therefor together with the aforesaid wigwag and tail light bulbs may as a unit be bodily inserted or withdrawn in breech loading fashion for motor repair or lamp replacement purposes. This retractible principle has been variously modified to meet different signal requirements, its structural aspects being centered in the use of a common carrier plate or the equivalent auxiliary prop means arranged to shift all of the stipulated working parts in unison. For heavy duty service, it is preferred to resort to a plurality of such swinging lights and thereby intensify the flash efiect.

Improved accessibility and compactness of installation on part of my motor drive unit and gearing is a salient feature as applied to my wigwag signal purposes. A further objec tive lies in providing for a carrier member disposed axially lengthwise of the tubular casing whose mounting shall be intrinsically stable and free from vibration when the relatively heavy weight borne by such carrier is subjected to road jars or the like motor car oscillations. To this end, the open mouth of my casing is preferably provided with a cover to which the motor carrier may be demountably attached but as a further support safeguard, said carrier may be additionally or independently upheld by the casing interior in a chordwise bridging relation thereto. Upon the removal of said detachable cover, my carrier together, with its assembled motor unit becomes exposed to view and may still be'operatively tested in installed position Y within the casing. If found defective, said carrier is purposely so designed that the entire mechanism normally housed within the casing may thereupon be'unobstructedly withdrawn to effect any necessary corrections. As an alternative, the cover together with its attached carrier member may likewise be bodily withdrawn which then includes the wigwag arm unit as operativelyassembled behind the cover lenses. Embodied herein are also other structural features organized to carry out the end in view, all .of

which will hereinafter be set forth in. detail.

Reference is had to the accompanying three sheets of drawings which are illustrative of several alternative arrangements of my invention; and in which drawings:

Fig. l is an elevational front 'or lens view of my assembled device as designed for motor vehicle purposes, and Fig. 2 shows a partial transverse sectional view thereof taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a vertical sectional view taken through line 3-4 of Fig. 2, while Fig. 4 depicts a rear viewas seen from line l-lof Fig. 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 respectively detail a plan and a side view of my casing partition or deck plate.

Figs. 7 and 8 respectively show a rear and a side view of a removed electric motor unit serving to oscillate my lighted wigwag arm, while Fig. 9 details a lead wire terminal.

Fig. 10 depicts in partial section, a modified type of vehicle signal that is removably inset into a body cavity and shown provided with twin flashlights, while Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view taken along line ll-Il of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 represents a modified view of the Fig. 11 disclosure.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, l0 denotes a sheet metal signal casing or housing comprising a tubular wall whose opened mouth regionmay be given a sectorlike contour that is cross-sectlonally inset as at H and adapted to be snugly received within the sheet metal cover ll of which the perimeter preferably registers with said contour, as shown. The chambered less rim portion l4 arranged to slidably embrace in the conventional manner. The cover further comprises an opaque web plate portion [5 that spans said rim. Within and closely adjacent to the arcuate contour of said plate, a series of transparencies or flashlenses such as ISA, IBB, etc. may be mounted across corresponding plate perforations in set apart or abreast relation and respectively arranged radially about a common swing center designated as 0. Said cover primarily serves as a lens holding means, the intended layout being such that a lighted bulb will flash the spaced lenses when oscillated along the course thereof. These lenses are preferably given a contrasting color scheme in the manner described and claimed in my prior Patent No. 1,751,018 of March 18, 1930.

My cover plate may further be equipped with a relatively large tail light lens H disposed con- .tiguous to the'apex region of said sectorlike shape and radially inward from said series of diametrically smaller flash lenses. Each of the hollow conical or so called beehive lenses is preferably provided with a relatively thin perimetric flange, the respective cover plate perforations being flared outwardly to serve as a receiving socket for said flange. A common lining plate 38 having registering apertures, may be inserted into the cover behind the various lenses to demountably hold the same in place.

The casing interior may be partitioned into separate compartments by means of the stamped carrier plate or the like auxiliary prop means I8 that is preferably disposed in a rectangular relation to the web plate l5 and made to rest chordwiseof the circumscribing profile that may be given to the tubular wall of my casing. As detailed in Figs. 5 and 6, this plate when used as a partitioning member, may be given a trapezoidal shape and provided with a pair of apertured marginal flanges such as l9 and 20 which are shown reversely offset. "The opposite marginal side edges of the carrier are purposely trimmed to snugly flt against the casing interior in order to aflord additional support for the motor weight borne thereon and each such edge region may be provided with an apertured upstanding lug such as 2|. An intermediate region of the tie' plate I8 is pierced by an opening 23 to throw down a depending lip 22 that is preferably expanded to constitute a standard lamp socket 24 of the slotted bayonet type.

The upturned carrier flange l9 may be removably attached to thecover plate and its lining by means of the screws 25, while the rear flange 20 may fixedly carry an insulator disc or the like bridging element 26. The diameter of said disc is kept sufliciently large to interiorly overlie and span the central opening through the rear flange l3. The casing may be supported in any 'convenient manner but preferably through said bridging element 26; as shown in Fig. 2,a channeled bracket 21 terminates in a forked or otherwise perforated transverse flange 28 that may be suitably propped up from the mudguard or some other vehicle member in the conventional manner. In regular motor car equipment, said forked flange usually comes' drilled with a pair of standardized bolt holes .that are either vertically or horizontally disposed. In order to universally meet either of such layouts, I preferably. provide for four evenly spaced and registering holes such as 29 (see Fig. 4) that extend through both the disc and its contiguous rear casing flange. The

assembled cover I 2, the carrier plate [8 and the disc 26, may be held in unitary relation by means of the bracket bolts 30 and the screws 25.

Turning now to my motive device for actuating the wigwag arm, a preferred unitary and bodily shiftable assembly thereof is depicted in Figs. 7 and 8. Said electric motor unit may comprise a pair of laterally spaced mounting plates 3| and 32 which are intended to stand upright with respect to the axially disposed carrier and between which plates, a flat laminated field piece 33 is suspended by a plurality of through bolts such as 34 of the spacer type. Said fleld piece is preferably of the open 0 frame type having windings 33A (see Fig. 7) around the yoke thereof. Within the field bore there is centered a rotary armature 35 of which the shaft ends are respectively pivoted in said mounting plates. A single lead wire 36 (see Fig. 2) may simultaneously supply current to thegrounded motor and to the swinging light 43, the terminal of said wire being preferably carried through the insulator disc by the binding post 31 which may be similar in structure to Fig. 9 except for the overhanging contact clip 5| there- 'of. The field of my motor may be either series or shunt connected with the armature; Figs. 7 and 8 schematically show'a lead wire 49A running from the terminal clip 49 to feed said motor, a branch circuit 45A being carried to the contact strip 45 so that a common conductor 36 is made to supply current to both the lamp 43 and the electric motor.

My motor unit may further comprise an oblong gear or companion plate 39 that may be parallelly held'with respect to the similar front mounting plate 3| and has a train of reduction gears disposed therebetween. The motor is provided with a. pinion and said gear train terminates in a rack type of rectifying mechanism that actuates the arm axle 40. This shaft extends forwardly through said gear plate in axial alignment with the swing center I1 and in parallel relation to my carrier plate. The free overhanging end of said axle mounts an angular wigwag or oscillatory arm 4| of which an outstanding leg may be expanded into a radially disposed lamp socket 42. The stop light bulb 43 is entered therein with its filament placed to swinginto successive registry with and immediately behind the respective flash lenses. The gear plate 39 and its adjacent plate 3| being made somewhat longer than the rear plate 32 (see Fig. 7) are separately interconnected at their respective corner regions by relatively long spacer screws 44 which rearwardly overhang the intermediate plate 3|. The lowermost of such screws are respectively received by the upstanding carrier lugs 2|, which in turn fixedly hold my motor unit in place within the upper casing compartment in the manner shown in Fig. 2.

As disclosed in Fig. 3, one end of the gear plate 3| may be equipped with an insulated terminal lug 55. Said lug includes an overhanging contact strip 45 which resiliently bears upon the depending button end 46 of an insulated bracket that is carried by the wigwag arm 4|. The center of said button is disposed to align with the axle 40, the arrangement being such that the wigwag arm is-allowed to reciprocate freely, while said overhanging strip maintains a slip contact with the button 46. Said bracket is also equipped with a lead clip 48 that is depressed by the lamp 43 when the latter is entered into the socket 42. The rearmost mounting plate 32 is further provided with an insulated, resilient terminal clip 49 which is disposed to demountably contact the innermost point of the binding post 31 (see Fig.

2). In the case of a,vehicle light, the current supply is usually furnished by a storage battery and placed under the command of a switch that is actuated in unison with the brake lever.

As regards the cooperating tail light bulb 50, this is shown horizontally disposed in the lower casing compartment and entered into the socket 2. The current thereto is supplied through a releasable contact clip 5| which reaches forwardly from an independent binding post 52 through the deck hole 23 as shown in Fig. 2. A connected lead wire 53 is carried back to a control switch, which continuously lights the tail lamp while driving after sundown. If desired,-

the spherical wall of my casing may be pierced to mount a window 54 therein adapted to shed light upon'a contiguous license plate.

An outstanding feature of the described em-- bodiment resides in its underlying breech loading arrangement by virtue of which, all of my self-contained motor drive unit and associated working parts lying interiorly of the chambered casing l0, can be unobstructedly inserted or bodily removed through the uncovered casing mouth. If for instance, a burned out bulb "is to be replaced, it is merely necessary to dismantle the casing cover by unfastening the screws 25, whereupon both bulbs 43 and 5!! become freely accessible. It is generally preferred however, to unscrew the bolts 30, which in turn allows the whole of the encased assembly including the carrier plate l8, the disc 26 and the tail light 58, to be bodily withdrawn forwardly as indicated by dotted outline in Fig. 2. Such unitary disposition not only affords convenient entry to all the working parts for repair purposes, but serves to reduce the manufacturing and assembly costs to a marked degree. It is emphasized that the cited structural characteristic is primarily centered in my demountable carrier member which serves to interconnect the various breeched parts. The improved accessibility of my signal is such that its wigwag arm, its bulb, motor and drive gearing may be bodily removed and tested outside of its casing; or'if preferred, the cover may also be independently detached to leave the remaining working parts upheld by the casing wall in operative position. The bodily withdrawal of;

such remaining parts is facilitated by the use of breakable electrical contact points disposed between the motor and the rear casing wall.

The installed motor after being set into motion, causes the wigwag bulb 43 to sweep back and forth at a comparatively slow period over the lens course and thus produces a striking flash light effect. Upon reaching the respective end regions of its reciprocative travel, the lamp will momentarily be held in dwell position.

Referring now to Figs. 10 and 11, there is here disclosed a modified style of heavy duty wigwag signal, which embodiment is more particularly designed for use on large busses and trucks or similar purposes. In such cases, a rear or other body wall 58 may be impressed or recessed inwardly to provide for a pocketlike cavity 59, or if preferred, said wall may likewise be apertured to have a separate housing or casing 80 inset therein, which housing is provided with an outextend through said mouth flange and cooperate with nuts fixedly riveted behind the body wall 58.

The angular wigwag arm 64 may have its free end turned inwardly and oventhe motor drive unit 65. The Fig, 10 arrangement is distinctive in being provided with a pair of signal lamps or bulbs 66 and 61 of which the centers are preferably kept spaced apart a distance approxi mately equal to the uniform pitch dimension that is given between the registering lenses. The advantage of such dual lamp disposition lies in the attainment of an intensified flash effect, particularly as applied to larger vehicle or van bodies, although it will be obvious that such dual lamps may readily be applied to the wigwagarm ll of Fig. 2. Furthermore, such stop light remains effective even should one of the lamps burn out while en route or otherwise fail to function. It is preferred to have both such arm lamps move into full registry with the respective outermost lenses, which would in turn require the leading lamp to overtravel its cndmost lens. The motor drive and electrical contacts may be kept substantially identical with the previously described connections, except that as a substitute for the carrier plate of Fig. 2, certain of the gear plate screws 68 have been extended through the plate 5| to serve as a centralized stanchion for overhangingly supporting the motor assembly relative to the holder plate 6|. By unfastening the several screws 63, the plate 5| together with its assembled flash light mechanism, may again be bodily withdrawn from the cavity 59 in breechlike fashion.

Fig. 12 is similar to the Fig. 11 disclosure except that a tail light compartment has here been incorporated. To this end, the vertical body wall I0 may during its manufacture, be impressed or otherwise recessed to provide for an upwardly inclined license plate ledge II. The removable front cover plate 12 is likewise kept flat and carries a series of spaced flash lenses such as I3 and also a tail light lens 14. As in Fig. 2, the respective compartmental lenses are independently lighted and partitioned by the carrier plate I5 which may again be mounted within the inset housing 15 and freely removed through the opened mouth thereof. The lower housing compartment may be equipped with a window 11 disposed to illuminate the license plate.

In all of the various embodiments, the wigwag actuating mechanism is kept adequately housed to provide for protection against dust or rain and any part of said mechanism may be conveniently repaired or replaced. Suitable contact clips may be arranged to facilitate such replacement without having to rewire the motor or bulb connections.

It is believed that the preceding disclosure makes apparent the intended function, mode of operation and the resulting advantages afforded by my improved wigwag signal or animated sign.

It is to be understood that various changes in the structural details and arrangement of my devices may be resorted to, also that the described casing compartments may be inverted, all without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention heretofore described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

ly overlie said flange, a cover for the casing mouth and which cover is provided with a course of transparencies in arcuate formation, a platelike carrier member mounted transversely of the inturned flange and secured to the bridging member, an arm pivot supported by said carrier member in approximate coaxial relation to the center of curvature of the aforesaid arcuate formation, a rocker arm mounted to turn about said pivot, a lamp bulb carried by the rocker arm to swing along the course of said transparencies into successive registration therewith, motive means supported by the carrier member in a forwardly spaced relation to the inturned flange and which means includes a movable actuating element, and a transmission gear also supported by thecarrier member and which gear operatively interconnects said rocker arm with the movable actuating element, the aforesaid motive means, transmission gear androcker arm together with the bridging member and its attached carrier member being assembled as a self-contained operative unit.

2. A signal comprising a tubular casing having an open front end region, a cover for said front end region and which cover is provided with a course of transparencies in arcuate formation, a platelike carrier member enterable through the uncovered front casing end and upheld'within the casing lengthwise of the tubular axis thereof, an

upright mounting plate erected upon one side face of said carrier member, an armpivot supported by and extending forwardly from said mounting plate in approximate coaxial relation to the center of curvature of the aforesaid arcuate formation, an electric motor including a rotatable armature and which motor is located rearwardly behind the upright mounting plate, said armature being provided with an overhanging shaft end that extends forwardly through said mounting plate, a rocker arm mounted to turn about said pivot, a lamp bulbcarried by the rocker arm to swing along the course of said transparencies into successive registration therewith, and a gear train including rectifying means operatively interconnecting the overhanging armature shaft end with said rocker arm and which gear train is also supported by the carrier member, the aforesaid arm, motor, gear train together with the carrier member and its mounting plate being assembled asv a self-contained unit that is withdrawable through the uncovered front end region of the casing.

3. A signal comprising a chambered casing having an open mouth region, a cover for the casing mouth and which cover is provided with a course of transparencies in arcuate formation, motor drive means including a movable actuating element, a carrier member enterable through the uncovered casing mouth and which member supports said drive means thereon in a laterally spaced relationship to the interior face of the closed cover, an arm pivot also supported by said carrier member in approximate coaxial relation to the center of curvature of theaforesaid arcuate formation, an angularly shaped rocker arm of which one leg is mounted to turn about said pivot and the other leg is provided with a socket, an electric lamp bulb entered into said socket to swing behind the closed cover and along the course of said transparencies into successive registration therewith, insulated --bracket means carried by the rocker arm, said bracket including a resilient lead clip that is depressed by the enterecl bulb, button means fixedly mounted with respect to the carrier and which button mainkins electric contact .with the arm bracket,

means delivering. energizing current to said lamp through the stipulated bracket and button means, and means operatively interconnecting said rocker arm with the movable actuating element, the'aforesaid motor drive means, rocker arm and bracket means together with the c'arriermember being assembled as an operative, self-contained unit that is withdrawable from the casing interior through the uncovered mouth thereof.

4. A flash signal comprising a unitary cham-' an electromotor unit supported by said carrier member and which unit includes an armature and a driven rocker arm having gear means operatively connecting the armature with said arm, an electric lamp bulb carried by the rocker arm to swing cooperatively behind the closed coverinto and out of flash registration with certain of said lenses, and means delivering energizing current to said bulb and motor, the aforesaid motor unit together with the carrier member being withdrawable from the casing interior through the uncovered mouth thereof.

5. A signal comprising a tubular casing wall of which an end region is provided with an inturned rear fiange having an opening therethrough and the opposite front casing end is provided with an open mouth region, an insulator bridging element spanning the flange opening, a cover for the casing mouth and which cover is provided with a course of transparencies in arcuate formation, a platelike carrier member enterable through the uncovered casing mouth and which member when entered is upheld by and chordwise of the tubular casing wall, a motor unit wholly supported by said carrier in a forwardly spaced relation to the rear flange and which unit includes an armature together with an arm-pivot disposed in approximate coaxial relation to the center of curvature of the aforesaid arcuate formation, also a driven rocker arm and a transmission gear that operatively connects said armature with said arm, an electric lamp bulb carried by the rocker arm to swing along the course of said transparencies into successive registration therewith, the carrier member and the aforesaid motor unit assembled thereon being withdrawable from the casing interior through the uncovered mouth thereof, and means delivering energizing current to both the bulb and the motor and which means includes a pair of separable contact clips respectively mounted upon said motor and the bridging element, the contact between said clips being automatically broken by the withdrawal of said carrier.

6. A signal comprising a chambered casing having a mouth region, a relatively flat cover for the casing mouth and which cover is provided with a course of flash lenses in-arcuate formation, carrier plate means equipped with outstanding lug means, said carrier plate being attached in substantially rectangular relation to said cover and projecting into thecasing interior, an arm pivot supported by the carrier plate in approximate coaxial alignment with the center of curvature of the aforesaid arcuate formation, a driven rocker arm mounted to turn about said pivot, an electric bulb carried by the rocker arm to swing behind the course of said flash lenses into successive registration therewith, and a motor unit for driving said arm, said unit being supported by the carrier plate and comprising a mounting plate and a laterally spaced gear plate, and screw means interconnecting said mounting and gear plates and which plates are secured to the aforesaid lug by said screw means.

7. A signal comprising a tubular housing having a mouth at'oneend thereof and an apertured inturned flange at the opposite end region, a mouth cover provided with a course of lenses in arcuate formation, pivot means disposed in approximate coaxial alignment with the center of curvature of the afd'resaid arcuate formation, a rocker arm mounted to turn about said pivot, an electric lamp bulb carried by the rocker arm, electromagnetic drive means for oscillating said bulb into successive registration with the course of lenses, an insulated bridging element including binding post means entered through the medial region of said element to furnish energizing current to said bulb and to the drive means and which bridging element is mounted to span the aperture of the inturned, housing flange, a supporting bracket serving to uphold the housing, said bracket including a perforated flange adjoined exteriorly to said inturned flange in a circumscribing relation to the aforesaid medial region of the bridging element, and bolt means securing the bracket flange to said inturned housing flange- 8. In a unitary signal, the combination of a tubular housing having a mouth end region, a mouth cover provided with a course of lenses in arcuate formation, a single carrier plate having a hole therethrough and serving to axially partition the housing into compartments, a pair of electric bulbs respectively mounted upon opposite side faces of the carrier plate with the respective major axes of said bulbs disposed in rectangular'relationship, one such bulb being movably mounted upon a rocker arm to turn about an arm pivot supported by the carrier plate inapproximate coaxial alignment with the center of curvature of the aforesaid arcuate formation to guide said one bulb into successive registration with the course of the lenses, electric motor drive means for actuatingthe rocker arm, said motor being supported by the carrier plate in a common compartment with the rocker arm, and binding post means extending through the wall confines of said rocker compartment 'to deliver energizing current to both bulbs and the motor and which means include an insulated terminal clip that ex tends onwardly through the carrier plate hole into operative contact with the bulb in the other compartment. g l

9. In a unitary signal, the combination of a chambered housing of'which a wall re'gion'is-pro vided with a course of lenses in arcuate formation, carrier plate means extending inwardly from the aforesaid wall region into the housing confines, an electric motor unit carried by said plate means and comprising a pair of laterally spaced mounting plates having assembled therebetween a motor field piece and an armature shaft and which unit further comprises a companion plate, a train of motor driven reduction gears including rectifying means mounted inwardly of and behind said companion plate, a

rockshaft entered through the companion plate in approximate coaxial alignment with the center of curvature of the aforesaid arcuate formation and which rockshaft is actuated by the motor unit, a rocker arm mounted upon said rockshaft, and a lamp bulb carried by the rocker arm into successive registration with said course of lenses.

10. A chambered signal housing provided with a mouth region, a cover for the housing mouth including a course of lenses in arcuate formation, carrier plate means disposed interiorly of the housing, an electric motor unit including a, field piece and a cooperating armature supported by said carrier plate and which unit further comprises a pair of laterally spaced mounting plates erected upon the carrier plate and serving to assemble the field piece and armature therebetween, an arm pivot supported by the carrier plate in approximate coaxial relation to the center of curvature of the aforesaid arcuate formation, a rocker mounted to turn about said pivot, an electric bulb carried by the rocker arm to swing into successive registration with the course of said lenses, an insulated bridging element for the hous ing, and binding post means extending through said bridging element to supply energizing current to both the motor and said bulb, said means including a separable terminal clip interposed between one of the mounting plates and the innermost binding post region.

11. A signal comprising a chambered casing having an open mouth region, a cover for the casing mouth and which cover is provided with a course of flash lenses in arcuate formation, a carrier member attached to the interior cover face and upheld by the tubular casing wall, an arm pivot supported by the carrier member in approximate coaxial alignment to the center of curvature of the aforesaid arcuate formation, a rocker arm mounted to turn about said pivot, an electric bulb carried by the rocker arm to swing along and behind the course of said flash lenses into successive registration therewith, motive means bodily supported by the carrier member and including a pivotally mounted actuating element of which the pivot axis is disposed'in approximate parallel alignment with the arm pivot axis, and a transmission gear interconnecting said rocker arm with the actuating element, said motive means, transmission gear and rocker arm together with the cover and carrier member being mounted as an operative self-contained unit..

1 2. A signal comprising a chambered casing mounted actuating element of which the pivot axis WILLIAM E. SIGNOR. 

